Field No. 1 at City Park was partially underwater at the peak of flooding from the nearby creek. By late afternoon, there was still no distinguishable bank along the water’s edge, and a swift current carrying broken tree chunks into pockets gathering debris.

The rest of City Park was waterlogged, too, and several areas in the northern part of Alamance County experienced minor flooding after Wednesday’s rain.

According to the city, the bank fishing areas, boat docks, walking trails and playground at Lake Cammack and Marina were all partially submerged Wednesday, and will be closed today. Stoney Creek will also be closed this weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, the county received between 1 and 3 inches of rain early afternoon Wednesday, the highest amount recorded in the northwest areas.

That’s all that was needed to overflow the creek that passes through City Park in Burlington, matting down the grasses on its banks in what’s a regular occurrence during heavy rain.

“It’s something we’re used to,” said Tony Laws, director of Burlington’s Recreation & Parks Department. “This area of City Park is a natural flood plain.”

He said the creek has flooded during heavy rainfall for the past 45 years.

“Where you see the grass and everything matted down, that’s where the water was flowing,” said Laws. “Fortunately it receded pretty quick.”

By Wednesday afternoon, Little Alamance Creek had retreated from the bank’s grasses, but was still high enough to lick the undersides of several bridges in the park.

“Sometimes it goes over the bridge,” Laws said, especially the lower bridge near the amusement area’s concession stand.

“We don’t think we have any serious damage,” he said. “One of the biggest areas it affects is the (No. 1) ballfield,” but there isn’t any permanent damage and crews will be out cleaning up debris as soon as the areas dry up, Laws said.

Elsewhere in the county, particularly in the northern area, crews with the N.C. Department of Transportation, Alamance County Fire Marshal’s Office and Emergency Management Department worked together clearing flooded streets.

Fire Marshal David Leonard said flooding occurred along Isley School Road, Mitchell Lane, Lakeside Avenue and Greenwood Drive between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The water receded by 1 p.m., he said.

“When we have it reaching out in the streets, then we’ve exceeded our flood stages,” Leonard said.

He said the first thing the Emergency Management Department does when a road floods is plan detour routes for emergency response routes, so emergency vehicles don’t get stuck in a flooded area.

Page 2 of 2 - But the flooding so far hasn’t caused any major road closures or issues, he said. Leonard said the water has been receding fairly quickly since the rain has been coming in “short bursts.”

The department also works closely with the Alamance County Rescue Unit in case any water rescues are needed, and monitors suspect, low-lying areas in the county, Leonard said. Burlington City Park is one of those areas, as is Pond Road off N.C. 62 and the banks of the Haw River along Lane Street.

“Anywhere along the Haw River,” he said, “we will monitor those areas.”

As of 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Haw River hadn’t “crested” or reached its banks, Leonard said. According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s daily stream flow conditions, the river was almost at 12 feet, and the NWS Flood Stage is 18 feet.

Leonard said the county Emergency Management Department is anticipating more flooding in other areas of the county, “as more storms are lurking upon us.”